Family & disabled visitor information
Page last checked and updated 29 March 2024
For recent updates – see updates
Easter Egg hunt. (New for 2024)
New this year. Easter egg hunt for under 10’s. Details from the step stool stand in the foyer. (Section added 20 March 2024)
Family tickets
A reminder to prospective visitors that family tickets admitting 2 adults & 3 children under 16 are available either on the door or ordered in advance. Advance tickets are at a lower price and details are on the York Show – advance ticket page. Under 5s are free. (section updated 19th Mar 2013)
Junior modelling area
In addition to the demonstrators Maggie Gravett and her team of specialists will be running sessions for new junior modellers to get hands on with building a plastic kit. We are most grateful to PECO Products Ltd., and Squires Model Craft Tools for their continuing support of this area.
Avoidance of queuing and congestion
It is appreciated that queuing with small children can be a nightmare for parents as can fighting your way round a congested exhibition hall. If you have to attend the exhibition during the mornings purchase of an advance ticket allows you to avoid the queues and gain admission up to 15 mins before the main doors are opened thereby giving you an edge over other visitors . Advance & Guest ticket holders arriving after the doors open to the public at 10:00 am are able to avoid any “pay desk” queues, simply come in via the main entrance doors and present your ticket to the ticket check stewards.
At times, particularly from opening until early afternoon, the show gets crowded with Saturday morning usually the busiest time of all. To avoid congestion in the exhibition if you are attending with children it is recommended that you attend later in the day when the peak visitor load has passed through. By attending in this quieter time you will have more room to stand by the exhibits with your child, your child will be able to see better and if you have questions to ask the exhibitors they will be less pressured and better able to spare time to talk to you. For parents with a small child in a buggy it is especially recommended that you attend during the quieter afternoon period when navigating the show with the buggy will be much easier.
We want you to attend, have a pleasant time, and return again next year having successfully introduced you, and your children, to our hobby and therefore we offer this advice to enhance your visitor experience.
Step stools
It is appreciated that some layouts set at the ideal viewing height for adults are therefore on the high side for the younger viewer. Step stools are available from the Information Point on the ground floor. A deposit is paid, returned when the stool is handed back. Visitors can, of course, use their own step stools/small step ladders if they have them – subject, of course, to parental supervision and appropriate use. If using steps please avoid obstructing gangways to assist safety and visitor circulation.
Baby Changing facilities/toilets
The Racecourse does have baby changing facilities within the suites we hire. For reference the baby changing facilities are in the Disabled persons toilet on the First Floor Mezzanine level close to the Exhibitors rest area and the children’s modelling zone. An additional disabled toilet facility with similar facilities is also available on the second floor opposite the lifts. However these facilities now require a RADAR key, if you haven’t one with you we have one to loan therefore please ask at the Information/Step Stool Hire point (Stand No 3 Ground Floor).
For returning visitors the one’s which will be open should be the same as we have used previously. Please enquire at the Information Point on the day if you find the open facilities are not obvious or the one’s opened for the Show have been subject to late change.
Lost children
The organisers appreciate that from time to time members of a party become separated in any busy event and that this is particularly worrying for parents with children. All obviously lost children will be taken by our clearly identifiable stewards to the Information Point (usually located on the Ground Floor) and an announcement will be made over the venue “tannoy” system.
We welcome the less than fully mobile visitor
Disabled visitor information – The York Model Railway Show welcomes disabled visitors over each Easter weekend. and have good disabled facilities, “on site”, within the halls on all days of the Show. Model making is a hobby / pastime in which many aspects can be done by the less mobile and suits all ages. The latest pricing information for carers accompanying disabled persons can be found on the Prices page. All floors are accessible by the venue’s lifts.
Disabled parking – will be available close to the main entrance to the Show. As locations may vary please please follow directions from the Racecourse stewards on the day.
Helping dogs – the general policy for the Show is that dogs are not admitted. However official helping dogs, guide dogs etc., are exempt from this ban
Disabled access and toilet facilities – There is a Disabled persons toilet on the First Floor Mezzanine level. Access is available to all floors by lifts. Please note that there is a lift to the mezzanine floors but that this is located in a slightly different place to the lifts that stop at the main floors. On entering the exhibition halls the main floor lifts are in the lobby and the mezzanine lift is to your right just through the doors. An additional disabled toilet facility with similar facilities is also available on the second floor opposite the lifts which has wider accesses.
Should I come on Saturday or Sunday/Monday?
The YMRS makes no change to arrangements under our direct control on any day of the Show but the Saturday is generally the most congested of the three days. The afternoons are also generally quieter than mornings. The parking for visitors is also closer on the Sunday and Monday as on the Saturday when the show date falls within April there is usually a clashing event See the arriving by car page for details (Section updated 22 March 2023)
Young persons modelling area
Young persons modelling area on the First Floor Mezzanine where kids will have the opportunity to build their own model building kit with expert advice from experienced modellers. (Closure on the last day may be earlier than show closure if the stock of materials runs out
Special family orientated events at next show
Young persons modelling area – as above.